Why we love working with Schools, Youth Groups & Young People

Bringing the outdoors to ALL, regardless of confidence, ability or experience is what we are all about.

Steph, our managing director (BSc (1.1), MSc (Distinction), Dip, MBPsS) comes from a background of working with young people with special needs and mental well-being difficulties. She has an MSc in Psychology and a Diploma in Children and Young People’s Workforce. It was working with young people, children and disadvantaged adults where Steph witnessed the truly transformative power of the outdoors and adventure in building esteem, resiliency, trusting relationships and quite simply the lasting mood boost of having a good old laugh. No person, no disadvantage or circumstance can ever take that experience away from anyone and it can be a deeply empowering experience for a young person. It was while out and about when having fun with young people where the most vulnerable and perspective changing conversations were had with young people and the most positive of outcomes seeded. This is why Steph decided to manage Yorkshire Dales Guides alongside her studies to become a Clinical Psychologist.

Steph teaching map and compass skills to the future – our young people 🙂

We aim to cater for ALL levels of experience, confidence and ability across a wide range of activities and desired outcomes such as Rock Climbing, Caving and Potholing, Walking and Hiking, Fellrunning, Team Building, and we work in partnership with local experts to also provide Biking, Mountain Biking, Watersports and Running Coaching. We also teach caving (SRT) and rock climbing ropework, and mountain navigation through the National Navigation Award Scheme.

We are fully insured and licensed specialists in harnessing the outdoors, psychological research and team building activities to facilitate whatever your schools/groups desired outcomes are, be them team cohesion, stress reduction or creativity. We do so by marrying our background in psychology, geology, the outdoors and exploratory expeditions to offer a springboard for transformation tailored to your group and their needs.

Our staff being experienced, competent and qualified in outdoor education is the bare minimum, we have staff who are coaches, have BSc’s in Education, PhD’s in Psychology, are experienced members of cave and mountain rescue teams and whom are qualified environmental scientists, chemists, geologists and geophysicists, so we can offer your group alot more than just a day out on the hills. Contact us at info@yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk or ring 01729824455 to discuss how we can tailor your field trip, camp or trip away to your desired education outcomes.

Whatever the weather. We can offer rock climbing both indoors and outdoors

FAQ’s answered:

We have comprehensive insurance for the activities we offer and to the required level for most local authorities. We do not offer personal accident insurance. Documents available on request.

What if its bad weather? We are an outdoor education centre with an activity barn in an accessible location just off the A65, only 25 minutes from Skipton or less than an hour from Kendal or Lancaster. We have an indoor climbing wall, changing facilities, an abundance of team building and fun games and a large indoor activity area with an SRT and abseiling platform for alternative activities in the unlikely event they be needed.

Our activity barn can also provide training in more advanced vertical caving skills for small groups who want to develop their interest in the sport. It provides a dry, safe and accessible environment where the instructor can work alongside the participants.

We can can work with you to provide evidence of what the young people have done and the skills they needed to use for their activity. This can assist in recording the progression of young people and the distance traveled. An example of a Recorded Outcome. These are being asked for more and more.

Duke of Edinburgh Award. We can offer expedition training for all levels and local qualified supervision of groups visiting the Yorkshire Dales. We can also help with your planning as we have a vast knowledge of the area as well as years of experience of working with and training Duke of Edinburgh Award groups.

We can help teach the young people about risk management through relating it to their activity and their wider world.

We can provide training for staff who wish to bring groups to the area. Our extensive knowledge of the Dales, our work in the outdoors and being active members of the local cave and fell rescue team allows us to draw on a wealth of experience on risk assessing, risk management, weather and its effects, dealing with small incidents etc.

We have an AALA Licence for working with people under the age of 18, who do under the supervision of their parent or legal guardian during the activity. The specified activities are: Caving, Hill Walking & Mountaineering, Rock Climbing – (Single Pitch only), Abseiling – (Single pitch only). Our Licence Number is R2476
The Licence means we have been inspected for the activities we offer that fall under the law. Not all activities are included as they are deemed to be of a lower risk.